As a pagan, I get this question a lot. Many people assume that prayer is only part of the Christian religion. In fact, prayer is part of many religions and spiritual paths.
Prayer often is entrenched in stereotypes. When I say prayer you may have an image in your mind that fits the word. Kneeling, folded hands, bowed head.
Do Pagans Pray?
Yes, prayer is often part of pagan worship. Prayer gives us a deeper connection with nature, a way to talk to the gods and goddesses we worship and lift up praises or concerns.
Yes, prayer is often part of pagan worship and has been for many thousands of years. Cave paintings, hieroglyphs, and early writings all inform us of the religious life of ancient people. The Egyptian Book of the Dead was first written about 2400 BCE.
When we pray we express gratitude, praise, and often sublimation or requests for help in some area of our lives. It is often heartfelt and emotional. Just like other religions across the globe.
In my family, prayer is an important part of expressing our pagan faith. My husband and I model prayer for our children and encourage them to think of their own prayers.
Pagan tip: When saying grace before a meal thank a deity of agriculture for your food.
Don’t Put Prayer In A Box
Sometimes we try to put prayer in a box. Don't be that person. Paganism is very diverse so your prayer life may be different from your friends. Do what works for you.
X/Twitter Polls
We are always interested in what our followers are feeling and thinking about their pagan experience. Here are the results of two polls - one from 2021 and the other from 2023.
Our 2021 Twitter Poll (@holidayspagan) showed that 35% of the respondents prayed daily and 26% weekly. Interestingly an equal percentage did not pray as part of their worship.
In 2023, the largest group was pagans who prayed occasionally with 38% and daily, weekly, or not at all were 21%.
Poll from 2021. Join us on Twitter! @holidayspagan
X/Twitter poll from 2023 Join us their @HolidaysPagan
What is Prayer?
Prayer is simply communication with a supreme being, the sacred or holy. That may be any number of gods, goddesses, mother nature, landweights, the Fae, your ancestors... We are polytheists!
Typically prayer involves an intention or request, expressions of gratitude, and asking for blessings. Prayer takes many forms. Speaking, chanting, singing and dance may all be forms of prayer.
Prayer may be accompanied by outward expressions. You may light a candle, ring a bell, or face a specific cardinal direction before or after prayer.
How Often Should Pagans Pray?
As often as you wish!
There is no “right” time for prayer. It can happen at certain times of the day, such as grace before meals. It may also be an ongoing thought process throughout your day.
There is no right or wrong when determining a prayer schedule. That is a personal decision that you make for yourself and with other people that you live with.
In our household personal prayer time is up to the individual person. We do have a family altar time and we do say grace at dinner. We feel it’s important to express gratitude daily. Grace is a good time for that.
I start each day by saying 10 things she is grateful for. These may be big or small but I try to think of at least some unique things.
Sarah Ban Breathnoch has a great book called Simple Abundance that talks about gratitude. It’s not from a pagan perspective but viewed as gratitude across any faith.
Some religions do have a more rigorous prayer schedule. Muslims stop what they are doing five times per day to face Mecca and pray. In addition, some pagan traditions have prayers at certain times, such as a change in moon phases or on feast days.
Don’t worry. Your prayer life is based on your spiritual needs.
Join me in my course on Candle Magic!
Examples of Pagan Prayer
We have so many beautiful examples of pagan prayer. Some were written down and preserved before Christianity was “invented”. some were written down as observations by early Christians who were observing and seeking to convert the pagan populations.
Norse Prayer known as Sigrdrífumál.
“Hail, day!
Hail, sons of day!
And night and her daughter[9] now!
Look on us here
with loving eyes,
That waiting we victory win.
Hail to the gods!
Ye goddesses, hail,
And all the generous earth!
Give to us wisdom
and goodly speech,
And healing hands, life-long.
”
The valkyrie Sigrdrífa says a pagan Norse prayer in Sigrdrífumál; illustration by Arthur Rackham.
Connect with The Divine
Humans have a need to connect with a higher power, a divine god or goddess, or an ancestor. One way we do this is through prayer.
Did the Ancients Pray?
Prayer is as old as time. We see glimpses into the prayer life of the ancients in archaeology and through oral histories. Cave paintings, hieroglyphs, and early writings all inform us of the religious life of ancient people.
Offerings at the Altar
Pagans often leave offerings at the altar as a gift for who they worship. Remember pagans are a diverse group and we worship a variety of gods and goddesses.
An offering shows respect to whom we are honoring.
Doesn’t the Divine Know What We Want?
Many but not all of us believe in an all-knowing higher power. Often, we feel that He or She already knows what we want to need. Humans do this in all types of relationships. You may feel your partner or best friend already knows what you’re thinking.
That’s not always true. Opening up the lines of communication is always a good thing.
Remember – if you don’t ask the question or express the need – the answer is always no.
Praying Versus Casting a Spell
Prayer is communication that often involves a request. The power lies with the Gods.
A spell is you making a change by going through a set of acts. During a spell, you are redirecting energy and seeking to control a situation. The power here lies with the person casting the spell.
Check out my YouTube channel!
Developing a Pray Life
While how and when you pray is a personal decision, there are benefits to developing an active prayer life.
Brings you closer to your deity or deities
Opens communication with the divine
Gives you time to focus on your spiritual journey
Christian Turn Offs
Many pagans came from an upbringing in Christianity. Prayer may be a trigger for painful memories or they may feel stuck in some type of prayer expectations.
If you were forced to pray as a child you may think of prayer in a negative way. Very understandable!
Take Away
Prayer is talking to the Gods. Not a wishlist of things we want. Like any healthy relationship, real communication is important.
I use the word communication because it is a two-way street. Speaking and listening. Take time to be silent and listen.
Author, Katherine Fox, is our editor and one of our writers. She is currently raising a pagan husband and three children. They love getting outside and exploring the natural world. Katherine’s heritage is Native American (Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho) and Irish and she writes about family fun pagan activities, Native American and Celtic traditions. Learn more about our team.